Theodore Charles Pavelec (November 4, 1918 – April 15, 2005) was an American football player.
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Pavelec attended St. Augustine High School in Kalamazoo where he won varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball, and golf.[1] He then attended the University of Detroit and played college football as a tackle and place-kicker for Gus Dorais' Detroit Titans football teams from 1938 to 1940. He was rated as one of the best linemen in University of Detroit history.[1] In November 1940, he kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Titans a 3–0 victory over TCU.[2] He also competed in Catholic Youth Organization boxing while attending the University of Detroit.[3]
He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 85th pick in the 1941 NFL draft,[4] signed with the club in May 1941,[1] and won a starting role with the club in September 1941.[5] He played for the Lions during the 1941, 1942, and 1943 seasons, appearing in 25 NFL games, 14 as a starter.[4]
In 1944, Pavelec played as a guard and place-kicker for the Hollywood Rangers of the American Football League (AFL), winning all-pro honors and kicked 67 out of 69 extra points and five field goals, including a 51-yarder.[6] While playing for Hollywood, he also signed to play the role of a boxer in the feature film "The Great John L.".[7]
